Feb. 10, 2020

Dr. Robin Yates appointed Dean and Vice-Provost (Graduate Studies)

A message from Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dru Marshall
Robin-Yates
Robin Yates

Following an extensive search, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Robin Yates has been appointed dean and vice-provost (graduate studies), effective Feb. 1, 2020. Dr. Yates has been serving as interim dean and vice-provost (graduate studies) for the past year and during that time has clearly and effectively demonstrated his passion and vision for, and commitment to, graduate education.

Dr. Yates joined UCalgary in 2008 with a joint appointment as assistant professor to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) and the Cumming School of Medicine, where he continues to lead a research group in the field of immunology. With funding from NSERC, CIHR and philanthropic organizations, his team researches the interface of innate and adaptive immunity with implications to aging, infectious disease and autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. Since 2008, Dr. Yates has taken on expanded administrative roles including associate dean (student) and senior associate dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and in 2018 achieved the rank of professor in the Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

In 2003, after practising as a veterinarian in Australia, Dr. Yates received a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship to pursue his PhD at Cornell University, which he completed in 2006, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell in biomedical science. He earned a Master of Tertiary Education Management from the University of Melbourne in 2015 that allowed him to explore the management and leadership of universities from a scholarly perspective. He also holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Queensland in Australia. 

The dean and vice-provost (graduate studies) provides leadership and support to our diverse community of graduate students in more than 55 programs. Dr. Yates is deeply committed to the student experience and has a bold vision to expand graduate education and position UCalgary at the vanguard of innovation in graduate education and programming in Canada.

Dr. Yates has received numerous academic awards and achievements including the UCVM Award for Research Excellence from UCalgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

I would like to thank the members of the Decanal Search Committee, which I chaired, for their diligent work and contribution to this process. They include: Penny Pexman (vice-president research representative), Sandra Davidson (decanal representative), Suzanne Curtin, Mary Grantham O’Briend and Gopal Achari (representatives of tenured academic staff), Paul Rogers (TUCFA representative), Gillian Robinson (MaPS representative), Corey Wilkes (AUPE representative), Lisa Hughes and Cathy Ryan (GFC representatives), Mohammad Mansouri (GSA representative), and Kevin Dang (SU representative).

Please join me in congratulating Robin on his appointment.   

Dru Marshall
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)